Hargreaves’s career at the crossroads again

MANCHESTER :Former England international midfielder Owen Hargreaves’s career is back in the balance after Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said a gamble on his fitness had backfired.Hargreaves, 31, was released by Manchester United last year after a series of injuries curtailed his playing time at Old Trafford, and City took a calculated gamble on the player who was highly influential for both club and country at his peak.Now however, after making just four appearances for City this season and scoring one goal, Hargreaves is injured again and City are unlikely to offer him a new deal when his current one-year contract ends in the summer.“We took a gamble on Owen because he was such a fantastic player,” the City manager said.“We thought we could try to get him fit in two or three months and then he would be able to play. But it hasn’t worked out quite like that.The Canadian-born player made his name with Bayern Munich between 2000 and 2007 before moving to United where he made only 27 league appearances in four seasons, although he was in the side who won the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. He also played 42 times for England.

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Hargreaves’s career at the crossroads again